Miss Dow's Strathspey 8x32 S
MISS DOW'S STRATHSPEY
32-bar Strathspey for 3-couples in a 4-couple set
| 1-4 | 1st and 2nd couples set and cross with partners giving right hand, and face out. |
| 5-8 | 2nd couple followed by 1st couple dance down the sides, and in and up around 3rd couple. 2nd couple lead to the top, cross and face out in 1st position. 1st couple lead to centre of the set in 2nd position facing up. |
| 9-16 | 1st, 2nd, and 3rd couples dance Reels of Three on the sides; 1st man with 2nd and 3rd ladies, and 1st lady with 2nd and 3rd men. To begin the 1st couple dance up and out, the 2nd couple out and down, and the 3rd couple out and up. 2nd and 3rd couples finish in 1st and 3rd places respectively, on their own sides by looping into place, while 1st couple finish in 2nd place on their opposite sides. |
| 17-20 | 1st man with 3rd couple, and 1st lady with 2nd couple, dance Three Hands Round to the left. On bar 20 1st couple pass by their right to change circles. ( 2nd and 3rd couples retain their partner's hand, and the shape of the formation while 1st couple change circles.) |
| 21-24 | 1st man with 2nd couple, and 1st lady with 3rd couple, dance Three Hands Round to the right. On bar 24 1st couple pull back left shoulders to face one another in the centre of the set; man facing down lady facing up. |
| 25-28 | 1st couple set to one another and dance a petronella turn to 2nd place on their own sides |
| 29-32 | 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn with both hands to places. |
| Repeat from new positions. |
Music: "Miss Dow's Fancy" by John Reid ( arranged by Nan Main)
Devised by Alan Macpherson (amdmac [at] blueyonder.co.uk).
"Miss Dow was a very influential figure in promoting and developing SCD in the Dundee area and some have described her as the "Miss Milligan" of the East. Alistair Macfadyen was of the opinion that Miss Dow deserved more recognition from the Society than was accorded to her, and Alistair suggested that a dance in her honour would be a fitting tribute and that I should write such a dance for publication by the Society. The strathspey, "Miss Dow's Strathspey", was devised by me and submitted to the Society in the mid 90s, but unfortunately it was rejected."
"The composer of the tune 'Miss Dow's Fancy' was John Reid (1869-1942), a famous Angus "Dancie" from Newtyle. He taught step dancing at the early Summer Schools and his Newtyle Orchestra provided the music for the Younger Hall dances. 'Miss Dow's Fancy' was first played by John Reid's orchestra at a Dundee Branch dance in the Training College Hall on the 14th December, 1934"
A lovely interesting dance.